Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Sleep in Older Adults with Mild Sleep Impairment: a Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Exercise has been found to be associated with improved sleep quality. However, most of the evidence is based on resistance exercise, walking, or gym-based aerobic activity.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effects of an 8-week aquatic exercise program on objectively measured sleep parameters among older adults with mild sleep impairment.

Methods

A total of 67 eligible older adults with sleep impairment were selected and randomized to exercise and control groups, and 63 participants completed the study. The program involved 2 × 60-min sessions of aquatic exercise for 8 weeks. Participants wore wrist actigraphs to assess seven parameters of sleep for 1 week before and after the intervention. Mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the differences between groups in each of the sleep parameters.

Results

No significant group differences on demographic variables, life satisfaction, percentage of body fat, fitness, seated blood pressure, and any parameter of sleep were found at baseline. Significant group × time interaction effects were found in sleep onset latency, F(1,58) = 6.921, p = .011, partial eta squared = .011, and in sleep efficiency, F(1, 61) = 16.909, p < 0.001, partial eta squared = .217. The exercise group reported significantly less time on sleep onset latency (mean difference = 7.9 min) and greater sleep efficiency (mean difference = 5.9 %) than the control group at posttest. There was no significant difference between groups in change of total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, activity counts, or number and length of awakenings.

Conclusions

An 8-week aquatic exercise has significant benefits on some sleep parameters, including less time for sleep onset latency and better sleep efficiency in older adults with mild sleep impairment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wu C-Y, Su T-P, Fang C-L, Chang MY. Sleep quality among community-dwelling elderly people and its demographic, mental, and physical correlates. J Chin Med Assoc. 2012;75(2):75–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Grandner MA, Patel NP, Perlis ML, Gehrman PR, Xie D, Sha D, et al. Obesity, diabetes, and exercise associated with sleep-related complaints in the American population. J Public Health. 2011;19(5):463–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Hung HC, Yang YC, Ou HY, Wu JS, Lu FH, Chang CJ. The relationship between impaired fasting glucose and self-reported sleep quality in a Chinese population. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013;78(4):518–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Qiu L, Sautter J, Liu Y, Gu D. Age and gender differences in linkages of sleep with subsequent mortality and health among very old Chinese. Sleep Med. 2011;12(10):1008–17.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Cappuccio FP, D'Elia L, Strazzullo P, Miller MA. Sleep duration and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Sleep. 2010;33(5):585–92.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Fernandez-Mendoza J, Vgontzas AN, Liao D, Shaffer ML, Vela-Bueno A, Basta M, et al. Insomnia with objective short sleep duration and incident hypertension: the Penn State Cohort. Hypertension. 2012;60(4):929–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldman SE, Stone KL, Ancoli-Israel S, Blackwell T, Ewing SK, Boudreau R, et al. Poor sleep is associated with poorer physical performance and greater functional limitations in older women. Sleep. 2007;30(10):1317–24.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Montgomery P, Lilly J. Insomnia in the elderly. Clin Evid. 2007;10:2302.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Alessi C, Vitiello MV. Insomnia (Primary) in older people. Clin Evid. 2011;10:2302.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Floyd JA, Medler SM, Ager JW, Janisse JJ. Age-related changes in initiation and maintenance of sleep: a meta-analysis. Res Nurs Health. 2000;23(2):106–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dzierzewski JM, Buman MP, Giacobbi PR, Roberts BL, Aiken-Morgan AT, Marsiske M, et al. Exercise and sleep in community-dwelling older adults: evidence for a reciprocal relationship. J Sleep Res. 2014;23(1):61–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. King AC, Pruitt LA, Woo S, Castro CM, Ahn DK, Vitiello MV, et al. Effects of moderate-intensity exercise on polysomnographic and subjective sleep quality in older adults with mild to moderate sleep complaints. J Gerontol. 2008;63(9):997–1004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Uchida S, Shioda K, Morita Y, Kubota C, Ganeko M, Takeda N. Exercise and sleep-review and future directions. J Phys Fitness Sports Med. 2012;1(2):317–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Driver HS, Taylor SR. Exercise and sleep. Sleep Med Rev. 2000;4(4):387–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Yang P-Y, Ho K-H, Chen H-C, Chien M-Y. Exercise training improves sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with sleep problems: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2012;58(3):157–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Youngstedt SD. Effects of exercise on sleep. Clin Sports Med. 2005;24(2):355–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Snowden M, Steinman L, Mochan K, Grodstein F, Prohaska TR, Thurman DJ, et al. Effect of exercise on cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults: review of intervention trials and recommendations for public health practice and research. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59(4):704–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Sherrington C, Tiedemann A, Fairhall N, Close JC, Lord SR. Exercise to prevent falls in older adults: an updated meta-analysis and best practice recommendations. N S W Public Health Bull. 2011;22(3–4):78–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Passos GS, Poyares DLR, Santana MG, Tufik S, de MelloI MT. Is exercise an alternative treatment for chronic insomnia? Clinics. 2012;67(6):653–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang X, Youngstedt SD. Sleep quality improved following a single session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in older women: results from a pilot study. J Sport Health Sci. 2014;3(4):338–42.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Lim HS, Roh SY, Yoon S. An 8-week aquatic exercise program is effective at improving gait stability of the elderly. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(11):1467–70.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Hauer K, Specht N, Schuler M, Bärtsch P, Oster P. Intensive physical training in geriatric patients after severe falls and hip surgery. Age Ageing. 2002;31(1):49–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sato D, Seko C, Hashitomi T, Sengoku Y, Nomura T. Differential effects of water-based exercise on the cognitive function in independent elderly adults. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2015;27(2):149–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Altan L, Bingöl U, Aykaç M, Koç Z, Yurtkuran M. Investigation of the effects of pool-based exercise on fibromyalgia syndrome. Rheumatol Int. 2004;24(5):272–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Arnold CM, Busch AJ, Schachter CL, Harrison EL, Olszynski WP. A randomized clinical trial of aquatic versus land exercise to improve balance, function, and quality of life in older women with osteoporosis. Physiother Can. 2008;60(4):296–306.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Devereux K, Robertson D, Briffa NK. Effects of a water-based program on women 65 years and over: a randomised controlled trial. Aust J Physiother. 2005;51(2):102–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Dundar U, Solak O, Toktas H, Demirdal US, Subasi V, Kavuncu V, et al. Effect of aquatic exercise on ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2014;34(11):1505–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jung J, Chung E, Kim K, Lee BH, Lee J. The effects of aquatic exercise on pulmonary function in patients with spinal cord injury. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014;26(5):707–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Alencar KL, Carvalho LB, Prado LB, Vantini AL, Vieira VC, Cardoso AP, et al. Older people involved in physical activity benefit from water exercise, showing longer total sleep time. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(4):725–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Yennan P, Suputtitada A, Yuktanandana P. Effects of aquatic exercise and land-based exercise on postural sway in elderly with knee osteoarthritis. Asian Biomed. 2010;4(5):739–45.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lee D, Ko T, Cho Y. Effects on static and dynamic balance of task-oriented training for patients in water or on land. J Phys Ther Sci. 2010;22(3):331–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Benelli P, Ditroilo M, De Vito G. Physiological responses to fitness activities: a comparison between land-based and water aerobics exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2004;18(4):719–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Thomas EN, Blotman F. Aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia: a practical review. Rheumatol Int. 2010;30(9):1143–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen L-J, Fox KR, Sun W-J, Lo M-K, Ku P-W. Prospective associations between different categories of physical activity and insomnia in older adults. Int J Sport Psychol. 2014;45(3):173–86.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kamrani AAA, Shams A, Dehkordi PS, Mohajeri R. The effect of low and moderate intensity aerobic exercises on sleep quality in men older adults. Pak J Med Sci. 2014;30(2):417–21.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Chien K-Y, Kan N-W, Lin Y-L. The benefits of water training in the middle-age and elderly adults. J Exerc Physiol Fit. 2012;14:11–21.

    Google Scholar 

  37. ActiGraph Software Department. ActiLife 6 user’s manual. Pensacola: ActiGraph Software Department; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sanders ME, Corporate Author-YMCA of the USA. YMCA Water Fitness For Health. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess. 1985;49:71–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Karelis AD, Chamberland G, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Duval C. Validation of a portable bioelectrical impedance analyzer for the assessment of body composition. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013;38(1):27–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Rikli RE, Jones CJ. Senior fitness test manual. 2nd ed. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lichstein KL, Stone KC, Donaldson J, Nau SD, Soeffing JP, Murray D, et al. Actigraphy validation with insomnia. Sleep. 2006;29(2):232–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Sadeh A. The role and validity of actigraphy in sleep medicine: an update. Sleep Med Rev. 2011;15:259–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Lira FS, Pimentel GD, Santos RV, Oyama LM, Damaso AR, Oller do Nascimento CM, et al. Exercise training improves sleep pattern and metabolic profile in elderly people in a time-dependent manner. Lipids Health Dis. 2011;10:1–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Youngstedt SD, Freelove-Charton JD. Exercise and sleep. In: Faulkner GEJ, Taylor AH, editors. Exercise, health, and mental health: emerging relationships. New York: Routledge; 2005. p. 159–89.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Taiwan National Science Council (No. 102-2410-H-028-004). Professor Fox’s contribution was in part supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre based at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Oxford. The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan

    Li-Jung Chen & Yi-Wen Chang

  2. University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Kenneth R. Fox

  3. National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan

    Po-Wen Ku

Authors
  1. Li-Jung Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth R. Fox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Po-Wen Ku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yi-Wen Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Po-Wen Ku.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, LJ., Fox, K.R., Ku, PW. et al. Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Sleep in Older Adults with Mild Sleep Impairment: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Int.J. Behav. Med. 23, 501–506 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9492-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9492-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation